Charles Kennedy

Liberal Democrats | Ross Skye & Lochaber

Kennedy: Construction Of Nuclear Power Stations Will Lead To A ‘Nuclear Tax’

In a speech hosted by CentreForum, Charles Kennedy responded to the Prime Minister’s announcement of an energy review, saying ‘the DTI has made no assessment of the costs of the construction of new nuclear power stations,’ which means it is likely ‘we will have a nuclear tax.’

Mr Kennedy detailed the costs already incurred to the taxpayer:

“Parliament has just had to approve a £56bn bill to clean up the waste from the nuclear power we have now. That’s equivalent to an £800 bill for every person in the UK. Imagine where we would be if we could spend that kind of money on renewable energy.”

“This energy review must set out a clear strategy for investment in clean, green renewable energy. We need a Government prepared to invest properly for our future energy needs, and to invest properly in the environment. That means proper funding for renewables, real incentives to cut demand, and concerted action to cut out waste.”

Full text follows.

Addition to CentreForum speech
Dartmouth House
29.11.05

Before I start I’d just like to say a few words about the energy review announced today by the Prime Minister – specifically on the issue of nuclear power.

Firstly the cost. 

It is economically naïve to believe that nuclear power will be some kind of panacea for our energy needs.

Parliament has just had to approve a £56bn bill to clean up the waste from the nuclear power we have now.

That’s equivalent to bill of over £800 for every person in the UK.

Imagine where we would be if we could spend that kind of money on energy efficiency and renewables.

According to parliamentary answers, the DTI has made no assessment of the costs of the construction of new nuclear power stations – that, they say, “are a matter for the private sector”.

And the Department has undertaken no research to establish the full economic life cycle costs of nuclear fission, including the safe disposal of the radioactive waste. 

The Prime Minister’s energy review must not skate over the costs of nuclear power.

We must be told who will pay because we know private industry can’t pay, Gordon Brown won’t pay, so it is likely we will have a nuclear tax.

We must be told the costs in full – and how it will be paid for.

No fudged figures.

No spin.

Secondly – nuclear power is not a panacea for climate change either.

Again according to parliamentary answers from the DTI “The Department has undertaken no assessment of the lifecycle carbon emissions of a nuclear fission plant.”

But it has been estimated that a nuclear power station could generate about a third of the emissions over its life as a gas fired station due to the need to extract and transport uranium.

And if we want to protect the environment, how can it be sensible to generate the 150,000 tonnes of nuclear waste that is already estimated for 2030.

As happened in the 1980s, spending vast sums of money on nuclear just squeezes out development on renewable energy such as wind, wave and solar power.

We need a Government prepared to invest properly for our future energy needs.

And to invest properly in the environment.

That means proper funding for renewables, real incentives to cut demand, and concerted action to cut out waste.

But it is abundantly clear that a new generation of nuclear power stations is not the answer to the short-term problem we face – nor the long-term environmental challenge.

This energy review must set out a clear strategy for investment in clean, green renewable energy.

Because nuclear power won’t save the environment.